After communication became online, sending threatening mails/messages became an easy job for many who want to vent out their inner anger, frustration or revenge. Today’s breaking news proves that again……. Noted lyricist Javeb Akhtar , one of my favourite personalities in Bombay filmdom has now been enlisted as the newest victim of cyber crime; he has received death threats from someone who felt it necessary to mail this ‘magician of words and lyrics’ stating that his time is limited (see Mohammed Wajihuddin & Vijay V Singh, ‘Javed Akhtar gets death threats on e-mail and SMS’,16th may, 2010,Times of India, available at http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=TOICH&showST=true&login=default&pub=TOI&Enter=true&Skin=TOINEW&GZ=T)
Akhtar plays with words in fine tunes. Usage of language to express thoughts about social issues, evil customs, corruption and moral duties to prevent such corruption; about beauty of women; responsibilities of men; how mothers play their roles forever;what children mean to the society………is his forte. When the actor speaks Akhtar’s words, Indian audience, and in that matter, cinema lovers of all countries who understand Hindi/Urdu or are made to understand Hindi/Urdu through subtitles, either criy simultaneously with the other characters of the movie or laugh their heart out when the actor tries to make others jubilant with the help of Akhtar’s words.
The message of the mailer was even stronger than what Javed Akhtar spreads through movie actors………… the message conveys ‘shut up or you will die’. The impact of the words was so distraught that even the ‘magician of words’, felt disturbed and could not ignore the message but to report it to the police. I know many individuals may have received such threats which are inclusive of death threats, threat to kidnap their kin, threat to defame their name and reputation etc. And who are these people who send death threats? Strangely enough, they are infact one among us, educated, successful in their own ways, probably satisfied in their lives, but do not know their limitations while they are in the cyber space. Well, it is a curse of technology ………….people can use offensive language in any way they can and still remain anonymous. Isn’t it enough to create a panic? Those who have read the epic Ramayana, must know about Meghanad’s attack from behind the clouds. No one can see the attacker, and the attacker successfully carries out his operation and then returns to his own kingdom as a winner. I find ‘anonymous death threats through emails’ quite similar with the acts of this epic worrier prince. The victim becomes so traumatized due to the sudden attacks from ‘no where’ that he /she forgets his own potentials to fight back. And the attacker becomes successful……..yes, he created what he wanted to create…. ………the FEAR.
Well, our Information technology Act,2008 does not permit the offender to run away. Section 66A puts strong words against playing dangerous games with words in electronic communications. The provision is engraved with multipurpose effects: it covers grossly offensive communications which annoys the receiver; which is knowingly false but is communicated for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, or ill will to and also against the receiver; and of course which may try to deceive or to mislead the addressee or recipient about the origin of such messages. And the punishment? Well… a jail term for two to three years and fine. The offence is bailable. But this must be read along with Indian Penal Code provision also for cases where the message carries threat to death, as that has happened to Javed Akhtar. Section 506 of the Indian penal Code prohibits criminal intimidation with punishment for two to three years or with fine. But the same law becomes stricter if the intimidation is meant to cause death, grievous hurt, destruction of the property etc.; or the threat is meant to cause any offence which is generally punishable with death, imprisonment for life or jail term for minimum seven years periods. In such cases the punishment may even put the offender behind bar for seven years and also inclusive of fines in certain cases.
The laws successfully convey the message that no one will be spared if they try to play with human emotions, especially, feelings for personal safety and security. Well, it depends upon the technology users to use cyber technologies in a lawful way or illegal way……………but remember, cyber space is created for good of mankind and not for destruction purpose; and if anybody plays hide and seek game, there are some others also who are interested to play cat and mouse chasing game and the mouse *will* be caught because the cat is trained to prevent injustice.
